Category: Restaurant review

Around 1976 my parents decided to separate. Mom ended up living in Grand Junction. She spoke to me often about a small upscale restaurant she discovered called The Winery. She often would go in and sit and the bar for a drink, probably a nice glass of wine. She quickly made friends there. The Winery was there for her and her children for decades. Birthdays, special events, nice evenings out. All important things to celebrate were worthy of a trip to The Winery.

Mom has passed on now, but the importance of this restaurant has continued. My own wedding dinner was there almost 30 years ago. We have introduced our own children to the quiet, reserved ambiance there. We have enjoyed anniversaries, birthdays and nice evenings out.

A few years ago The Winery was in difficult times with an owner who couldn’t appreciate the history and couldn’t leave well enough alone when it comes to the menu. We thought it may close. Steve Thoms stepped in and saved it. Under his management the restaurant has flourished and gotten stronger. He left the core of the menu alone and played around with other items to entice former and new patrons back. And it has worked. The Winery is once again a vibrant, fun place to enjoy. And with the recent addition of the outside patio we have a new place to visit when all you want is a small appetizer and a beer.

There are threads in a life, in a community, in a family that need to be encouraged to stay strong. Places we visit often because the memories are that vibrant. Places we visit because we like the people and the history. Places we visit because they remind us of good times and good people. The Winery is that place in this family. It is an institution to us because it has remained rock solid in its belief to just be the same. Quality and consistency. Day after day, year after year, decade after decade.

So why am I writing about another place to eat? Because this particular restaurant is that important to us. 3 generations in my family have now celebrated important and not so important events there. We continue to hold it in our hearts because it is one of the threads we can all share together. A shared memory forged over time. In one consistent place.

Had the 20 oz bone-in rib eye with rice and caesar salad. Jen and I shared. It was excellent. We go there for good steaks at a reasonable price. Sat at the bar and had a nice dinner with our son. Very nice.